What would you do if some students decided it is very OK to disobey the school rules? What would you say to a couple of students who always arrived late to school without any plausible reason? What action can you take if a boy refused to tuck-in his school uniform in class?

The challenges of modern teachers today.... it's not about teaching young minds to their best limit. It is to discipline these rowdy buggers and not having them broken (well mostly) at the end of the day.

As volatile and draconian I can be, I DO love my students - but not all. I love those who obeys, who finishes his / her homework on time, who keeps silence on cue (e.g. Mount Teacher about to go boom), who always greet their elderly well, who dresses well to school, who has their workplace tidy etc.

I hope I wasn't asking for too much.

Children will behave as children... but those kids who can think beyond their age will go far.

Yesterday, as I was teaching a class of 16 year olds about the principle of thermodynamics, I've noticed three boys who sat by the window had their faces down on the desk, sleeping or pretending to be.

I had enough. And usually I would lash out some rather degrading remarks on such ignorant youngsters.... Then I remembered that I had dished TOO many advice, TOO many scoldings, TOO much love on these particular boys. So I told the rest of the attentive students;

"Now, I've gone beyond anger with you. I just cannot be mad with you anymore.""But why sir? What do you mean?""I realized that while most of you do care for your future, it is not so for a few friends of yours. I've spent too much energy scolding people, and as I do not wish to have high blood pressure at my age, I think I'll just let you be, and do as you please.""But they are only a few...." (the boys were still immobile)"That is why, my fondest regards and wishes go to those who LISTENS to me. As you are not my children and you know my stand against disobedient students; it is imperative for you to be on my good side for your own good. For example, as I have no interest to scream at you now, that does not mean I will not slash a huge chunk off your marks from this coming test. An eye for an eye. Keep on sleeping."

And they woke up....

Tell me if I do wrong. Or do you prefer physical punishment? Oh, and the school counselor is a friend of mine and I do sent a lot of problematic kids her way.

Earlier this morning, as I drove along a rather narrow stretch of road, in a part of rural area, Mr Accident suddenly decided to come knocking again. He came in the form of a senior citizen behind the wheel of an old red salon.

I moved my car to the left, with a few inches of my tires from the storm drain, waiting for the red car to pass. But it didn't.... Oh ok, this might be a lady, who is not sure about her driving skills... I thought.So graciously, I reversed my Kia back, some 30 metres away to the front gate of a house. The road was wider and I hoped the red car's driver will have more confidence to manoeuvre there.

There was smoke raising from the engine of the red car. I heard gears clashing and the car moved forward and backward in front of me. Not wanting to be late to school, I raised my right hand out of the driver's window, beckoning the opposite driver to drive past - because the road was SIGNIFICANTLY wider and safer now. But what happened next etched this day into my 'Special Day To Remember 2011' memory.

The red car lurched to the front and hit my right front bumper!!!!!!!

Did I scream? Cussed the dark morning blue with my colourful words? Went out of the car with a meat cleaver?

No, I didn't. Actually I am a veteran of many car accidents.... People hit ME on the road, not the OTHER way around. Seriously, my Kia was quite an accident magnet, and she still rolls on. FYI (1 van, 2 motorcycles, and now 2 cars). Before you people pointed out that I might be a dangerous driver.... happily you are wrong. I drive VERY defensively, even some people who knew me was surprised at this!

So (back to the story), I closed my eyes and sighed. The red car reversed and at last it managed to move next to me. But another surprise. Yippy ka yay.

The driver rolled down the window (oh, he's an old man, with very white hair), and as I expected him to apologize.... the guy suddenly cussed and cursed me for being an arrogant ba*****. He said I should know to give him more way. He said he lived around there, and he has more right. He said I am an arrogant bas**** (again). He said I was a terrible person and so on.

I heard these all with utter disbelief. And he berated me for more than 2 minutes (I checked my watch) and now four cars were queuing behind his red car, waiting.

You wanna know why I waited for more than 2 minutes listening to his tirade? I wanted to see how silly people can be, and my late father once told me; No matter how an older person is wrong, DO NOT retaliate back just yet, wait for your chance. If it was a younger guy, I'd stepped out of my car and punched him in the face.

And I had to yell to stop him cursing, telling him that people have to go to work and have a nice day. I drove past (remembering his license plate MAA 9402) and I had no problem with the cars behind him, where the road was narrower. This speaks VOLUMES!

Reached school 10 minutes later than usual, and checked my front bumper for damage. As I predicted, only scratches.... (you should see the damage done to the car which hit my Kia hard at the back last year, it was a total wreck, and my car had a dented back bumper only. Korean cars rock!)

I told a few colleagues about this incident, not for pity, but just releasing steam because I couldn't believe an older person was capable of doing such act. More mature, and you should be wiser. Oh, anyway, the guy who hit my car from the back WAS ALSO an older guy!

Now tell me what you think.

p.s.

- I returned very late from school this evening... as I drove VERY slowly along that narrow stretch, I looked up for the red car at the several homes along the way. What you expect me to do? Yes, Daddy told me to take my time, right?

But the car wasn't there. The senile guy might live deeper from the road...

It's 12.26 am in a hot and balmy night.
A tea candle burning in an IKEA glass thingy next to me.... just because I enjoy the flame.
Why I was absent for 4 months?
Was it the infamous writer's block? Swallowed by the dastardly Void? Or just plain lazy?
I don't know, but I gave a reason like 'bad internet connection' to some friends / people.
Which is COMPLETELY true.

I did a lot of interesting things these past few months....
Might talk about it here, if people are still interested. If not? Ah, that's so metaphysical.

Am now watching several guppies swimming in a Japanese-made aquarium (small, yet very functional).
Love guppies, as they are so interesting to watch - colours and dynamics.
My love set this up for me this afternoon. :)

I am bored....
I'll wake my ferrets up to accompany me for a while.
By poking at their tummies, really.
They sleep like logs.
Oh, and I have another ferret, a female.
Will post their pic soon. :)